Permutation-padlock.



UNITED STATES PATENT. FEICE.

THOMAS KING, OF GLENCOE, MICHIGAN.

PERM UTATION-PADLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,867, dated January 6, 1903. Application filed August 6,1902. Serial No. 118,600. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

vBe it known that I, THOMAS KING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Glencoe, in the county otHuron and State of Michigan, have invented a newand'lmprove'd Permutation-Padlock, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a class of padlocks having rotatable locking-rin gs that by adjustment secure the inserted leg ofa bowed shackle-bar within the lock-body and byaproper change of adjustment release the shackle-bar, permitting its withdrawal from the lockingrings.

The object of my invention is to provide novel features of construction for a permutation-padlock that are simple, Aeasy to manu` facture, and convenient to manipulate, at'- fording a very secure lock at a moderate cost.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and ldefined in the apj pended claims. i

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side View of the complete lock. Fig. 2 is a sectional side view taken through the axis of the lock, substantially on theline 2 2 in Fig. 3, showing the shackle-bar in locked condition. Fig.v 3 is a sectional plan View substantially on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken substantially on the line 4 4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detached side elevation of the base-plate and keeper-posts erected thereon. Fig. 6 is aplan view of the details shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7` is a sectional side view of the lock with parts adjusted to release the shackle-bolt; and Fig. 8 is a planA of the boss being concentric with the periph-` ery of the base-plate. lA pivot-shaft l1 is erected atthe center of the base-plate and boss thereon, said shaft being in the form of a flat-headed bolt, having a screw-thread formed on the normal lower end, as at a, this threaded portion having `threaded engagement within a tapped perforation in the center of the base-plate 10, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and '7. Upon the boss 10a four similar keeper-posts 12 are erected, are evenly spaced apart, and positioned at the circular edge of the boss, each having at its upper end a dowel-pin b.

A plurality of rings 13 are provided of similar exterior diameter tothat of the base-plate 10, said rings of equal thickness having proper clearance from the side of the posts 12. Each ring 13 is annularly recessed in its upper face, these similar recesseschaving suiicient depth and diameter to permit the insertion into each recessed ring of a detent-riug 14, each furnished with an inwardly-'projecting annular rib or iiange d.

The detent rings 14 have projections g formed on their outer edges, any preferred number of these projections being produced on each detent-ring, the projections' being preferably V-shaped, the series of spaced projections for each detent-ring havingalooseseated engagement in V- shaped notches formed in the side wall of the recesses c, whereby each detent-ring is adapted for a rotatable adjustment in each main ring 13, by removing the' detent-rin'g, turning it a portion of a revolution, and again seating it within the recess c at a desired point, which permits the projections or teeth g to enter the notches.

Between each pair of Vadjacent main rings 13 and detent-rings 14 a spacing-disk 15 is introduced, said disks each having four equally-spaced openings h therein, that are `at such a distance from the circular edge .thereof as permits the free insertion of the four posts 12 therethrough, such engagement of thedisks and posts disposing the edges of the disks in the same plane with the peripheries of the main ring 13.

It will be seen that theinner circular edges of the Hanges d on the detent-rings 14 are of less thickness than the bodies of said detentrings and have their lower edges Hush with the lowerfaces of the body portions 14, which construction affords an annular rabbet on the inner-upper corner of each detent-ring, hav- IOO ing a depth equal to half the thickness of Isaid ring, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 7. Furthermore, it will be noticed that the inner edges of the anges d have a loose contact with the convex outer surfaces of the post 12, so that the main rings 13 are disposed concentric with the central shaft 1l when the latter is in place. A cap-plate 16 is provided having a central aperture for ,the reception of the body of the shaft 11 and also having four socket-indentations formed in the lower side thereof for the reception of the dowelpins b, which by their engagement with the cap-plate hold the plate from turning on the shaft.

The disks 15 are centrally perforated to receive the shaft 11 and when in position between adjacent main rings 13 areheld stationary by the posts 12.

The shackle-bar 17, constitutingr the hasp of the padlock, is provided with a long member or leg 17a and a short leg 17h, these members being spaced apart and held in parallel planes by the bow portion ofthe shackle-bar, which is preferably jointed, as at 17d, and in service is disposed exterior to the cap-plate 16. The legs 17a 17b of the shackle-bar are preferably cylindrical in their bodies, and upon the outer portion of the longer leg 17L asuitable number of locking-toes are formed or secured. The toes ol equal in number the annular spaces that intervene the annular flanges d and are designed to t loosely between said tlanges. Two diametricaliy opposite notches 7c are formed in the fianges d on each detent-ring 14, and in these opposite notches the toes 'L' are adapted to slide downward when said notches are vertically alined in opposite rows.

As shown in Fig. 2, the shorter leg 17b eX- tends downward of a length sucient to permit it to pass through the cap-plate 16 and uppermost main ring 13, said cap-platehaving two diametrically opposite orifices m therein, that are notched to permit the free passage of two spaced toes z', that project outwardly from the body of the shorter leg 17h.

The spacing-disks 15 are of like construction, preferably thinner than the rings 13, and, as shown iu Fig. 4, are each provided with two diametrically opposite orifices n, having notches fn in their edges, similar to the notched orifices fm in the cap-plate 16, and it is apparent that these orifices n and notches n will, if correctly formed in the disks between the apertures through which the posts 12 pass, be vertically alined in two sets that are in registry with the orifices m in the capplate 16, so that the shackle bar may be freely passed downward through the disks 15 and detent-rings 14 when the notches lc are alined with the notches n.

The pivot-shaft 11 is tted to pass neatly down through a central perforation in the cap-plate 16, and, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, is provided with a thin circular edged head 16a, cross-kerfed, as at f, for the use of a screw-driverto screw the lower end of the shaft into the base-plate 10, and, as represented in Figs. 2 and 7, two lateral notcheso are formed on the legs of the shackle-bar 17, where enlargements 17c are formed on the exterior portions of theV legs 17* 17", said notches receiving the peripheral edge of the head 16' and holding the shaft from upward movement when the shackle-bar is fully inserted and secured by adjustment of the rings 13, as will presently be explained.

' Upon the exterior of the main rings 13 evenly-spaced shallow grooves p are preferably formed, that may be vertically alined in rows, and on each ring 13, between said grooves p, individual designating characters-such for example, as letters of the alphabet-are formed. As afeature of advantage the designating-letters of the alphabet are preferably indented in the surface of the rings 13 and coated with illuminating-paint, so that the letters may be readily distinguished in the dark when it is necessary to adjust the lock, thus dispensing with other light at night to enable an opening of the padlock;

The spaced letters on each main ring 13 may form numerous combinations to be read in vertical lines, and for security but one letter on each ring should be directly opposite a notch la in the detent-ring 14, thatis seated and detachably locked to the main ring, so that when these letters are alined the shacklebar 17 may be inserted and withdrawn, providing the main rings are not rotatably moved, such a movement after the shackle-bar is fully inserted obviously serving to remove one or more of the notches k from alinement with others that may be properly alined, and thus effect a locking of the shackle-bar within the body of the lock by preventing its upward movement.

By provision of the changeable detent-rin gs 14 and means to rotatably adj ust said detentrings on respective main rings 13 numerous combinations may be eected to bring into service other designating-letters that are on the main rings, and as these combinations may be eected readily the lock may be set for locking and opening on a diereut combination frequently, thus insuring security from tampering with it.

In order to prevent a complete removal of the shakle-bar from the body of the lock, a check-pin r is inserted transversely through the lower end of the longer leg 17a of the shackle-bar, so that it projects therefrom and produces a lateral abutment on the inner side of the shackle-bar leg 17a.

A notch n2 is formed opposite each notch n in the respective disks 15, and as these disks are held from turning by the posts 12 it will be seen that these notches n2 will afford a free passage for the inner end of the check-pin r therethrough. No notch is formed in the cap-plate 16 vfor the check-pin r to pass through. Consequently said pin will impin ge ICO `n.. As a matter of fact this provision is not lplate equally distant from its center, a series upon the cap-plate when the shackle-bar 1'7` is moved to draw itfromthe lock-bodycomposed of the rings 13 and disks 15, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and this will prevent the complete withdrawal of the leg 17u, While the short leg 17b is removed suf` ficiently from the cap-plate to afford space between its free end and the cap-plate for the release of a hasp-staple or the like, that may have been engaged with the bow end of the shackle-bar.

To afford room for the lower `end Vof the longer leg of the shackle-bar to receive proper depression and accommodate the check-pin r, so that it may be disposed in the detentring 14 that is 'adjacent to the boss 10a on the base-plate l0, a recess n4 of proper form is produced in said boss immediately below the orifices n, in the disks l5, so that the lower extremity of the shackle-bar leg 17fL may be seated therein and properly dispose the toes t' between the flanges d on the detenta-rings 14 when the shackle-bar 17 is fully inserted within the body of the padlock.

I have shown and described the disks 15 as all provided with notches n lin both orifices absolutely necessary, except for the top disk 15, that is engaged by both of the shacklebar legs 17a 17h; but in the manufacture of these parts of the lock in quanttyit is of ad` vantage to have the disks all formed alike, which will facilitate the assembling of the details of the lock, as any of the disks will be available for the uppermost one in the lock-body. n

The formation of the joint 17d in the shackle-bar 17 greatly facilitates the engagement of said portion of the lock with a staple that is of such diameter as to nearly ll the bow portion of the bar, and is a valuable feature of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure -by Letters Patent- 1. A permutation-lock, comprising a baseplate, a plurality of posts erected on the baseof rings having indicating characters on their peripheries and held free to rotate on the posts, a perforated cap-plate engaging the upper ends of the posts and held from rotation thereby, a shackle-bar having two legs that loosely engage perforations of the `capplate and pass through the rings, lateral spaced toes on the shackle-bar legs adapted for locked engagement with the rings, and a l pivot-shaft holding the cap-plate and series of rings together.

2. A permutationpadlock, comprising a base-plate, four posts erected from the baseplate equally distant from its center and from each other, a series of main rings having indicating characters on their peripheries, a detent-ring seated in a recess in each main ring and changeably secured thereto, each detentring having an annular flange projected inwardly therefrom, a perforated cap-plate engaged by the upper ends of the posts and held from rotation thereby, a central shaft screwing into the base-plate, a series of disks perforated to slide upon the posts and upon the central shaft, said disks spacing apart the main rings, a bowed shackle-bar having two legs whereon spaced toes are laterally formed, said legs passing through perforations in the cap-plate,thedisks having notched orifices for the passage of said legs and toes therethrough, the annular flanges having notches through which the toes pass, and spaces between the flanges receiving the toes and permitting the rotation of the main rings ron the posts to'lock and release the shacklebar.

t 3. A permutation-padlock, comprising a baseplate,aseries of main rings,a corresponding series of detent-rings, each seated in a recess formed in one of the main rings, said detent-rings each having a series of peripheral projections that changeably interlock within notches formed in the peripheral wall of the recess occupied by the detent-ring, a bowed 'shackle-bar having a long leg and a short leg,

a series of spacing-disks held from rotation by posts erected on the base-plate, said posts at their upper ends entering sockets in the cap-plate, the spacing-disks having notched orifices, a series of spaced toes on the legs of the shackle-bar working between the detentrings and adapted to pass through the notched orifices in the disks, and a flat-headed pivotshaft passing through the cap-plate between the legs of the shackle-bar, the head of the shaft engaging its edge with notches in the legs of the shackle-bar which prevents the displacement of the shaft when the shacklebar is locked.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS` KING.

Witnesses:

K. PAIsoN,

HARRY Dickinson.

ICO 

